to collect the fum neceffary for his ranfom; and we are not afhamed to employ ourselves in the occupation of watermen. The gentleman was ftruck with this account, and, on his departure, made them a handfome prefent.

6. Some months afterwards, the young men being at work in their fhop, were greatly furprised at the fudden arrival of their father, who threw himself into their arms; exclaiming, at the fame time, that he was fearful they had taken fome unjuft method to raise the money for his ranfom, for it was too great a fum for them to have gained by their ordinary occupation.

7. They profeffed their ignorance of the whole affair, and could only fufpect they owed their father's release to that ftranger, to whofe generofity they had been before fo much obliged. After Montefquieu's death, an account of this affair was found among his papers, and the fum actually remitted to Tripoli for the old man's ransom.

8. It is a pleasure to hear of fuch an act of benevolence performed even by a perfon totally unknown to us; but the pleasure is greatly increased, when it proves the union of virtue and talents in an author fo renowned as Montefquieu.

THE BENEVOLENT PAIR.

A POOR man and his wife at Vienna, whe had fix fmall children, finding themselves unable to fupport them all, were reduced to the neceffity of turning the youngest upon the public. The husband carried it reluc tantly to the foundling hofpital, depofited it in the basket which was placed near the gate for the reception of the indlings, and anxiously waited till the arrival of the inetor, that he might take a farewel view of his child.

2. When the infpector came at the ufual time to ex. amine the basket, he perceived two children therein. Ob ferving the labourer who stood at a small distance, he fuppofed that he had brought them both; and compelled the poor man, notwithstanding all his proteftations to the contrary, to return with two children instead of one, which was already more than he knew how to maintain. F

3. His

3. His wife, as well as himfelf, was exceedingly dejected at this increase of their expenses; but, unwilling to expose the little stranger in the street, they determined to ufe all their endeavours to fupport themselves and the feven children; and they hoped Providence would affift them.

4. On undreffing the child, the woman found a paper fewed to its clothes, containing an order upon a banker for five crowns a month, to be paid to the perfon who took care of it. The good people were not a little rejoiced at

their happy fortune.

5. But the ftory being circulated, and coming to the knowledge of the managers of the hofpital, they claimed the child as their property. The labourer refused to relinquifh it, and was affifted by fome perfons of diftinction.

6. The caufe being tried in a court of juftice, it was decreed, that, as the foundling hospital had at first declined receiving the child, it of right belonged to the poor man who had shown fuch humanity in keeping it, when he was fo ill able to afford any additional expense.

THE UNFORTUNATE PHILANTHROPIST.

IN the year 1775, a fhip lying at anchor in

Table Bay at the Cape of Good Hope, was driven on fhore in a violent ftorm, and the crew reduced to the utmost distress and danger. Their cries for affiftance were diftinctly heard by the inhabitants; but at first there appeared no profpect of relief from any quarter.

2. The fwell of the sea, which broke over the ship with the greatest violence, made it impoffible for them to fave themselves in boats, and highly dangerous to attemp by fwimming. Some of thofe, who ventured to fwim.to fhore, were thrown against the rocks and dafhed to pieces others, as foon as they had arrived at the fhore, were carried back by another wave and drowned.

3. A Dutchman by the name of VOLTEMAD, who happened to be a fpectator of this diftreffing fcene, was touched with compaffion of fo noble a kind, and at the fame time fo operative, that, mounting a high spirited horfe,

be

he fwam him over to the fhip; encouraged fome of the crew to lay hold of the end of a rope, which he threw out to them for that purpose, and others to faften themselves to the horse's tail; then turned about, and carried them safe on fhore.

4. This animal's natural aptnefs for fwimming, the great fize of his body, the firmness and ftrength of his limbs, prevented him from being eafily overpowered by the fwell of the fea. But, unfortunately, this generous and active veteran himself became a victim to death.

5. Fourteen young perfons he had actually faved; and while endeavouring to preferve more than it was poffible for him to do in fo fhort a time, he and his horse were both drowned. The occafion of this was as follows.

6. After the feventh turn, having stayed a little longer than ufual to reft himself, the poor wretches on board were afraid that he did not intend to return; for this reafon, being impatient, they redoubled their prayers and cries for affiftance; upon which, his tendereft feelings being wrought upon, he again haftened to their relief ere his horfe was fufficiently refted.

7. The poor animal, almoft spent, now funk the fooner under his burden, inafmuch as too many fought to be faved at one time; and one of them, as it was thought, happened unluckily to catch hold of the horfe's bridle, and by that mean drew his head under water.

8. This bold and enterprising philanthropist commands our esteem and admiration the more, as he had put himself into this danger for the relief of others, without himself being able to fwim. The Dutch East India company caufed a monument to be erected to the memory of this unfortunate philanthropist.

ST. PAUL'S

PAUL'S SPEECH BEFORE KING
AGRIPPA.

I THINK myfelf happy, king Agrippa, be

saufe I fhall anfwer for myself this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews;

efpecially,

efpecially, as I know thee to be expert in all cuftoms and questions which are among the Jews. Wherefore I befeech thee to hear me patiently.

2. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among my own nation at Jerufalem, know all the Jews; who knew me from the beginning, if they would. testify, that, after the ftraiteft fect of our religion, I lived a Pharifee.

3. And now tand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers. Unto which promife, our twelve tribes, inftantly ferving God day and night, hope to come; for which hope's fake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

4. Why fhould it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God fhould raife the dead? I verily thought with myfelf, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jefus of Nazareth.

5. Which thing I also did in Jerufalem; and many of the faints did I fhut up in prifon, having received authority from the chief priests. And when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And 1 punished them oft in every fynagogue, and compelled them to blafpheme. And being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto ftrange cities.

6. Whereupon, as I went to Damafcus with authority and commiffion from the chief priests, at mid day, O king, I faw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the fun, fhining round about me, and them who journeyed with me.

7. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice fpeaking unto me, and faying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why perfecuteft thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I faid, Who art thou, Lord? And he faid, I am Jefus whom thou perfecutest.

8. But rife, and ftand upon thy feet; for I have ap peared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister, and a witness, both of these things which thou hast seen, and of thofe things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I now fend thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of S.

unto God; that they may receive forgiveness of fing, ad inheritance among them who are fanctified by faith which is in me..

9. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vifion; but fhowed firft unto them of Damafcus, and at Jerufalem, and throughout all the coafts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they fhould repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. For thefe caufes, the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

10. Having therefore obtained help from God, I continue unto this day, witneffing both to fmall and great; faying no other things than those which Mofes and the prophets did fay fhould come; that Chrift should fuffer, and that he fhould be the first who fhould rife from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

MONTAIGNE thinks it fome reflection

upon human nature itself, that few people take delight in feeing beafts carefs or play together; but almost every one is pleased to see them lacerate and worry one another.

2.

I am forry this temper is become almost a diftinguishing character of our own nation, from the obfervation which is made by foreigners of our beloved paftimes, bearbaiting, cock-fighting, and the like.

3.

We fhould find it hard to vindicate the deftroying of any thing that has life, merely out of wantonnefs; yet in this principle our children are bred up; and one of the first pleasures we allow them is the license of inflicting pain up

on poor

animals.

4. Almoft as foon as we are fenfible what life is ourfelves, we make it our sport to take it from other creatures. I cannot but believe a very good ufe might be made of the fancy which children have for birds and infects.

5.

Mr. Locke takes notice of a mother who often procured thefe animals for her children, but rewarded or punished

F 2

them